HAMPTON — Police are investigating an attempted armed robbery at a convenience store Thursday that was thwarted by a power outage in the area.

At approximately 8:10 p.m., officers and detectives from the Hampton Police Department as well as N.H. State Police officer with a K-9 responded to the Xtra Mart Mobil convenience store at 685 Lafayette Road in Hampton for a reported armed robbery attempt.

Due to the wind storm, the power was out and the store was closed for business. The lone clerk was confronted in the doorway by the suspect who stated he had a gun. The suspect demanded the clerk open the safe and upon learning the safe could not be opened due to the power outage, fled the store without money. He was last seen running toward Route 1.

The suspect is described as a male of unknown age, standing approximately 5' 7”. He was wearing a black mask, dark shoes, a black and white hooded sweatshirt with zipper and black pants.

Hampton Police were also assisting Hampton Falls Police Department with an assault and possible robbery attempt in their town that had occurred less than one hour before the Hampton attempted robbery.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact the Hampton Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 603-929-4444 or they can remain anonymous by contacting the Crimeline for the Hamptons at 603-929-1222 or email them at: hamptonscrimeline@yahoo.com.